Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter

 Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett, 368 pages.

Agnes Aubert's cat rescue has always been in a precarious place, which is pushed to desperate when a street duel between magicians destroys their building and forces her to look for a new home. So she really doesn't have any choice but to accept a shop on a fashionable street for suspiciously cheap rent, and so what if the place feels haunted and strange? Still, having Havelock Renard, the so-called Witch King, for a landlord is a bigger surprise than she had prepared for, and the affairs of magicians have a way of getting out of hand. But Havelock is not what he seems, and soon Agnes finds herself inclined to add a dark lord to her rescue list.

This was a lush and vivid fantasy novel. A magical 1920s Montreal provides a new and novel setting, filled with just enough magic to set the imagination aglow. The atmosphere was all encompassing, and the plot was light and easy to follow. That being said, I do think this book may have been more style than substance. Many topics were touched on but not fully explored, and the characters often felt more like archetypes than people, leaving the romance elements feeling a little lacking. It was still very enjoyable as a light, casual book perfect for winter reading, cat lovers, and fans of Howl's Moving Castle.

This book will be released February 17th, 2026.

(As an aside, I'm obsessed with this cover)